C#: The input stream is not a valid binary format.
- by Mcoroklo
I have a problem with deserializing in C#/ASP.NET, which gives the exact error:
The input stream is not a valid binary format. The starting contents (in bytes) are: 41-41-45-41-41-41-44-2F-2F-2F-2F-2F-41-51-41-41-41 ...
What I am trying to do
I have a structure with 3 classes. I have a class A which is a base class, and then class B and C which are derived from A.
I am trying to store random types of B and C in the database using LINQ to SQL, in a column with the type VARCHAR(MAX).
I cannot use BINARY as the length is around 15.000.
My code...
Error is in the LAST codeblock
C# Code in Business layer- Storing a record
private void AddTraceToDatabase(FightTrace trace)
{
MemoryStream recieverStream = new MemoryStream();
MemoryStream firedStream = new MemoryStream();
MemoryStream moveStream = new MemoryStream();
BinaryFormatter binaryFormatter = new BinaryFormatter();
binaryFormatter.Serialize(recieverStream,trace.Reciever);
binaryFormatter.Serialize(firedStream,trace.FiredBy);
binaryFormatter.Serialize(moveStream,trace.Move);
string reciever = Convert.ToBase64String(recieverStream.ToArray());
string fired = Convert.ToBase64String(firedStream.ToArray());
string move = Convert.ToBase64String(moveStream.ToArray());
this.dataAccess.AddFightTrace(trace.TraceType.ToString(),reciever,move,fired,trace.DateTime,this.FightId);
}
C# Code in Data access layer - Storing a record
public void AddFightTrace(string type, string reciever, string Move, string firedBy, DateTime firedAt, int fightid)
{
GameDataContext db = new GameDataContext();
dbFightTrace trace = new dbFightTrace();
trace.TraceType = type;
trace.Reciever = reciever;
trace.Move = Move;
trace.FiredBy = firedBy;
trace.FiredAt = firedAt;
trace.FightId = fightid;
db.dbFightTraces.InsertOnSubmit(trace);
db.SubmitChanges();
}
C# Code getting the entry in the database
public List<dbFightTrace> GetNewTraces(int fightid, DateTime lastUpdate)
{
GameDataContext db = new GameDataContext();
var data = from d in db.dbFightTraces
where d.FightId==fightid && d.FiredAt > lastUpdate
select d;
return data.ToList();
}
C# Factory, converting from LINQ to SQL class to my objects
THIS IS HERE THE ERROR COMES
public FightTrace CreateTrace(dbFightTrace trace)
{
TraceType traceType = (TraceType) Enum.Parse(typeof(TraceType), trace.TraceType);
BinaryFormatter formatter = new BinaryFormatter();
System.Text.UTF8Encoding enc = new System.Text.UTF8Encoding();
MemoryStream recieverStream = new MemoryStream(enc.GetBytes(trace.Reciever));
recieverStream.Position = 0;
MemoryStream firedStream = new MemoryStream(enc.GetBytes(trace.FiredBy));
firedStream.Position = 0;
MemoryStream movedStream = new MemoryStream(enc.GetBytes(trace.Move));
movedStream.Position = 0;
// THE NEXT LINE HERE CAUSES THE ERROR
NPC reciever = formatter.Deserialize(recieverStream) as NPC;
Player fired = formatter.Deserialize(firedStream) as Player;
BaseAttack attack = formatter.Deserialize(movedStream) as BaseAttack;
FightTrace t = new FightTrace(traceType,reciever,attack,fired);
t.TraceId = trace.FightTraceId;
t.DateTime = trace.FiredAt;
return t;
}
So the error happends when the first Deserialize method is run, with the above error.
I have tried several things but I am quite lost on this one..
Thanks! :-)
